FIFA are working hard around the world to help achieve a goal of 60 million female players by 2027. The ambitious target is underpinned by 13 development programmes with all 211 FIFA Member Associations (MAs) eligible to apply for support from world football's governing body. In 2025, FIFA renewed and expanded its Women’s Development Programme in a further boost to women’s football. Additional information can be found here. Inside FIFA looks at just some of the significant recent activity which continues to expand the footprint of women’s football globally.

The Angolan Football Federation (FAF) have outlined their Women’s Football Strategy 2026-2029, developed with FIFA support. Launched in the capital Luanda, the plan focuses on education, capacity building and better conditions for the game. A large cross-section of officials attended led by FAF President Fernando Alves Simões, alongside FAF Vice-President for Women’s Football Irene Gonçalves, and FAF National Technical Director Zeca Amaral, plus representatives from all 19 provincial associations, local players, government representatives and a large media contingent. "With this strategy, we gain access to FIFA’s projects to help drive the future of women’s football in Angola,” FAF said in a statement. “Our whole ecosystem will benefit from it and from the actions planned for the next four years.”

The Fiji Football Association (FFA) have been notably active in recent years working with FIFA to further grow football in the Melanesian nation. Earlier this year, Fiji became the first country in Oceania to inaugurate a FIFA Arena mini-pitch. That initiative follows the roll-out of an inspirational Football for Schools programme for Fiji, as well as the FIFA Talent Development Scheme. The latest boost to grassroots football came in the form of the FIFA Women’s Football Campaign with local youngsters in Tavua and Rewa enjoying an inclusive introduction to football. Activities for participants included skill-stations, small-sided games and even a social messages booth. Youngsters at Rewa were further treated with the visit of several national team players.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) have put a huge focus on growing women’s football in the past few years and have engaged in two of FIFA’s development programmes in just the past month. The FUFA/FIFA Women’s Football Campaign – Northern Region Festivals were held in Lira City and Gulu City, and proved to be hugely popular reaching 225 and 116 girls respectively with national team players also in attendance as ambassadors. The activities build on previous campaign initiatives hosted by FUFA in West Nile (2023) and Bukedea (2025), further expanding grassroots women’s football development across Uganda.

Meanwhile, the FUFA Women Club Commercial Strategy workshop, brought together representatives of FUFA Women Super League clubs and other stakeholders for a two-day programme in Kampala focused on strengthening the commercial development of women’s football. Participants heard from numerous representatives including visiting FIFA expert Andrés Portabella and Tomás Corrêa.

The Guam Football Association (GFA) have outlined their roadmap for the coming years with the release of the GFA Women’s Football Strategic Plan. Developed through stakeholder consultation, data analysis, workshops, and collaborative planning, the strategy identifies key challenges and opportunities across the women’s football pathway - from grassroots participation and youth development to clubs, national teams, coaching, refereeing, leadership, facilities, commercial growth, and media visibility. Ariya Cruz, GFA Women’s Football Development Manager said: “This plan is more than just a strategy, it is a commitment to creating a stronger pathway where opportunity, development and belonging are intentional.”

September proved to be a milestone month for the development of Women’s Football in South Sudan. The South Sudan Football Association’s (SSFA) headline act was the launch and opening of the South Sudan Women’s Premier League (SSWPL), the nation’s first women’s top tier league. Through the League Development programme, 30 female referees and 28 female sports medics received extensive training. With support from the Capacity Building for Administrators programme, the workshops were delivered for all 12 SSWPL clubs and also SSFA administrators.

The Women’s Football Campaign returned to Laos for a third year and the Lao Football Federation (LFF) were rewarded with nearly 300 girls aged 10–16 on hand in the Vientiane province for a day of football, learning and inspiration. Building upon two successful years of the campaign, the 2026 programme continues to strengthen pathways for girls in football and promote greater participation at community level. Ms. Phouxay Phengphong, LFF Executive Committee member said: "When we give a girl the opportunity to play football, we give her more than a game we give her a place to belong, the confidence to believe in herself, and the courage to dream bigger. With every girl who plays, learns, and dreams, we are building a stronger pathway for the next generation of players, coaches, officials, and leaders.”

A busy year of development activity continued in Croatia with the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) hosting a girls’ football festival as part of their Women’s Football Campaign. Following the release of the federation’s Women’s Football Strategy and League Development activity earlier this year, this month saw some 50 girls take part in the festival in the capital Zagreb with the aim of introducing them to football and encouraging their participation in the sport.

The Bolivian Football Association (FBF) hosted their latest Women’s Football Campaign, marking the second year of the campaign and promotional event for women's football in the South American nation. Last year’s initiative in La Paz, Potosí, and Tarija, collectively proved to be a resounding success. This year’s campaign will feature four festivals across different regions with the first taking place in Santa Cruz where more than 60 girls gathered to share the experience.

Operating under FIFA’s League Development programme, the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) hosted a club workshop for managers and administrators. During the two-day event, participants shared experiences on governance, leadership, tournament organisation, player protection, safeguarding and strategic planning. In addition, U-19 clubs received equipment funded supplied by the FIFA’s Women’s Football department.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have utilised FIFA’s Women’s Football Campaign to foster women’s football in less densely populated municipalities, where establishing sports structures for women presents greater challenges. The town of Miraflores de la Sierra welcomed around 100 youngsters to an event featuring a variety of promotional activities, with star power on hand in the form of national team assistant coach Iraia Iturregui. The initiative has already been carried out in Murcia and Galicia, with events in Extremadura and La Rioja scheduled to follow.

The National Football Federation of Guatemala (FFG), with the support of the FIFA League Development Programme, are hosting the U-15 Girls’ Youth Tournament from September to December 2026. The tournament will feature 12 clubs and a total of 360 players, divided into two groups of six teams each. This initiative aims to strengthen the development of girls’ youth football in Guatemala, promote competitive participation, and provide greater opportunities for the identification and development of female talent.

All eyes are fixed on Brazil ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ meaning a busy time for the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). With legacy and long-term growth beyond the tournament key principals, a delegation from the FIFA Women’s Football department gathered in Rio de Janeiro to help formulate the CBF’s Women’s Football Strategy. Among some of the notable names making a contribution were Brazil national team coach Arthur Elias and former As Canarinhas captain and Executive Director of Legacy and Stakeholder Affairs at FIFA27 Aline Pellegrino. The delegation’s visit also included meeting with numerous other key stakeholders and clubs in Brazil.

Meanwhile, Corinthians U-20 women’s coach Julia Passero has become the first Brazilian to benefit from FIFA’s Coach Education Scholarship programme. Passero travelled to Germany to complete her UEFA B Licence with the FIFA programme aimed at helping promising female coaches move into the next stage of their career.

New inductees have been welcomed to the FIFA Women in Football Leadership programme with the latest event held in conjunction with the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026™. The four-day workshop in the capital, Rabat, saw a crossover of participants with cohort two graduating and cohort three commencing their journey. The event offered an opportunity for participants to exchange insights on their careers, ambitions and the challenges faced in their respective local environments. The FIFA Women in Football Leadership programme is designed to address the need for more female representation in football’s decision-making bodies.

In another major boost for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ preparation money will be increased to USD 2.5 million per Participating Member Association, on par with the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Following on from the FIFA Council meeting held on 15 October 2026, the Bureau of the Council also confirmed that players participating at Brazil 2027 will enjoy the same service levels as their male counterparts in 2026, and any surplus from the women’s showpiece will be allocated to the Member Associations involved, with a specific amount ring-fenced for players.

The road to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 is now clearer for those nations participating in intercontinental play-offs with Rabat, Morocco announced as hosts of the preliminary phase of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Play-Off Tournament, and the match schedule also confirmed. The nine-match tournament will see Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and Uzbekistan compete, with the top two teams progressing to February’s final phase of the play-off competition.

On the pitch, strong and colourful crowds for two Brazil home matches again gave a small sample of what awaits next year in South America. Close to 30,000-strong crowds were on hand in Porto Alegre and Recife for matches against Argentina. Four of the eight FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ stadiums have now hosted Brazil women’s team matches in 2026. Brazil earned a 3-1 win in the opener in Porto Alegre, before the teams shared a 2-2 draw in the second match.